Hehir “had her whole life ahead of her,” Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Tricia Dare said, and she had no way of knowing that Dhondt “was going to bring that to a screeching halt.”

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Authorities said Dhondt, 29, admitted to hitting Hehir with a cup, causing her to hit her head on a dresser and fall to the ground, where Dhondt got on top of her and hit her multiple times in the head.

Dhondt strangled Hehir, Dare said, “watching the life seep out of her.”

Police said Dhondt dragged Hehir’s body to the basement and used tools to dismember her before storing pieces of her body in different areas of the home and garage. He stayed awake until 8 or 9 a.m., cleaning the crime scene, before sleeping for about four hours, Dare said. When Dhondt woke up, he walked to the store to buy cigarettes and energy drinks. He called Hehir’s friend and her brother around 4 p.m. and called police around 10 p.m.

Judith Gracey, who represents Dhondt, said her client simply snapped during an alcohol-fueled argument. Hehir had been at a going away party for a co-worker and was upset that she had to leave early to pick Dhondt up from his job at Olive Garden.

Hehir was intoxicated and vomited upon returning to the home, Gracey said. When Dhondt tried to hand her a glass of water and some aspirin, Hehir “knocked the glass out of his hand and kicked my client very hard in his genitals, and at that point, my client just snapped.”

Gracey said the case does not meet all the elements of first-degree murder, which requires premeditation and carries a penalty of life in prison.

“It was a fight, alcohol was involved and she lost her life,” Gracey said.

“Usually the people who are closest to you are able to push that magic button.”

Testimony will resume at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in front of Oakland County Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen.